Auditions for The Belfry Theatre’s production of “The Lilies of the Field” will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, and Monday, Dec. 20, in the chapel of Noblesville First United Methodist Church, 2051 Monument St., Noblesville. (Enter through the main east entrance of the church.) Callbacks, if needed, will be Dec. 21.
Director Linnéa Leatherman is seeking a diverse cast, 4 men, 5 women, and a guitar-playing folk singer.
AUDITIONS
Auditions will consist of readings from the script. Bring a list of your schedule conflicts for the period between Jan. 9 - March 27, 2022, including weekends.
PRODUCTION DATES
Production dates are March 18, 19, 20 and 24, 25, 26, 2022. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The venue will be the Auditorium at Ivy Tech Hamilton County, 300 North 17th St., Noblesville. (former Noblesville High School.)
REHEARSALS
Rehearsals will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, and will run 7 to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, with increased rehearsal time closer to production. Initial rehearsals will not require the attendance of the entire cast. IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND THESE SCHEDULED AUDITION DATES, CALL DIRECTOR LINNEA LEATHERMAN AT
THE NUMBER BELOW
SHOW SYNOPSIS
Homer Smith, a young Black Southern Baptist from South Carolina, is traveling across the United States after receiving his discharge from the U.S. Army. He has fixed up a bed in the back of his station wagon and headed west, his plan being to stop for a day’s work here and there as the spirit moves him. Happening upon a group of nuns working in a parched field in the Southwest, he asks if they have any temporary work for him. Through a series of conversations and arrangements, he is hired to fix their leaky roof, but ends up staying much longer than he expected, building a chapel for their mission. Mother Maria Marthe and the Sisters have come from Hungary and East Germany, and seem to be living as refugees in the United States. While they have a lot of donated supplies, they have practically no money. Homer stays with the hard-working nuns, working on the roof, eating with them, teaching them English, and joining with them in their evening songs — even teaching them some new ones. On Sundays, he drives them the two miles into Piedras for Mass, a distance they have always walked.
While the nuns are at Mass, Homer has breakfast in a diner owned by José Gonzalez, who fills him in on the history of the nuns. Since paying Homer isn’t anything Mother Marthe has in mind, Homer also works part-time for Orville Livingston, who owns a construction company in the town of North Fork. Through that connection, Homer eventually buys what he needs to start building the chapel. However, the project proves to be a burdensome and discouraging one. As the weeks wear on, Homer, with no bricks, no pay, and no real hope for success, loses heart and resolves to leave. However, with the help of the local farmers, and the gift of many adobe bricks, the chapel becomes a reality and Homer, despite his staunch Baptist background, is invited to sit in the front pew for the chapel’s first Mass.
Father Gomez weaves in and out of the scenes as the narrator of the show, and a guitar-playing folk singer adds some music and folklore to the production.
CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
-Homer Smith - Young Black man, mid-20’s to early 30’s. Army vet recently discharged. Strong, sturdy,
capable, intelligent. Southern accent. Sings and plays guitar. (Nothing complicated.)
-Mother Maria Marthe - 60+. small, strong, stern but with warmth. Firm, guttural voice with noticeable
German accent. Sings.
The following nuns are all younger than Mother Maria Marthe. Their ages can vary. All will need strong German or Hungarian accents. All must sing.
-Sister Albertine Oldest of the sisters. Leads the singing.
-Sister Elizabeth
-Sister Gertrud
-Sister Agnes
-Father Gomez Hispanic priest. Very slight Spanish accent. Any age. LOTS of monologues.
-José Gonzalez Hispanic owner of the Piedras diner. Pronounced Spanish accent. 40s-50s. Congenial.
-Orville Livingston Owner of the Livingston Construction Co. in North Fork. Self-assured, prosperous
middle-aged businessman. Brusque. Patronizing. Cocky.
-Folksinger - Plays guitar and sings “The Ballad of Homer Smith” before each act. Male or female. Any age.
AUDITION PACKET
Please read the attached Audition Packet and bring two completed forms to auditions, and please include your head shot. https://www.thebelfrytheatre.com/.../Lilies_Audition...
CONTACT INFO
Director: @Linnéa Leatherman, 317-709-4482, cat2act@yahoo.com
Assistant Director: Lori Lavalle, 317-515-8327, lori.lavalle@icloud.com
Producer: Carla Crandall, 317-372-9344, crandallc@att.net
MORE INFO
For more information, visit The Belfry website at https://thebelfrytheatre.com
